Window system



A. RAPPL WINDOW SYSTEM @at 3, H950 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 18, 1944 ATTORNEYS 0cm 3, i950 y A. RAPPL. 2,524,714

WINDOW SYSTEM Filed Nov. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 seno 57 FWZ. a

n INVENTOR BY ANTQN RAom.

ATTORNEYS A. RAPPL wINDow SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 18, 1944 NVENTOR ANTON RAMA. BY

ATTO R N EYE Patented Oct. 3 19:50

WINDOW SYSTEM Anton Rappl, Eggertsville, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,087

19 Claims.

This invention relates to a window system and one especially designed for the opening and closing of the windows of automobiles and other motor cars; It has heretofore been proposed to provide a pneumatic window system with means for automatically locking the window by a force originating in the window for frustrating any attempt to open the window from without the vehicle. At times, however, it is desirable to open the window manually, as when the engine provided operating pressure islacking, but this has heretofore been resisted by such window actuated lock.

An important objectof the present invention is to provide a pneumatically operated window which will overcome the foregoing difficulty and enable the window to be readily opened manually without interference by the window lock.

.A further object is to lprovide a pneumatic window V'system in which the window may be raised and lowered with a minimum and substantially uniform effort throughout whereby to insure a greater eiiiciency of p operation from a source Vof fluctuating pressure, such as is provided by the intake manifold of the vehicle power` plant.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of the window operatory Fig. 7 is a like viewabout on line l-l of Fig. 1

depicting the manual regulator; g

Fig'. 8` is a horizontal section through a portion of the vmotor piston as viewed about on line 9 3 of Fig. 2; l

Fig 9 is anY inside view of `the lock housing, as

viewed on line 9 9 of Fig. 2, with the toggle arms removed Fig; 10 is a fragmentary perspective, with parts' in phantom, of la portion of the piston;

Fig. llis a fragmentary View of a piston'packing' member; and` j Fig. 1 2 is a detailed sectional view of the cross- Over connector;

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

the numeral l designates the door or body portion of a'motor vehicle having a window 2 mo'untfv edin channeled guideways 3 for vertical sliding adjustment. On the bottom edge of the window4 is a pair of bracket arms l which engage lugs 5V and 5 on a pair of laterally spaced and vertically disposed active portions and l of a fiexible` power transmission member for supporting the window for vertical movement. According to the present showing this ileXible transmission member comprises in effect an endless member operatively supported by the four wheels or pulleys 8, 9,v l and H. The endless member, herein shown as a tape or band, is formed in two sections, one section I2 extending through Ythe fluid motor chamber I3 and taking about thel l at one end and about pulleys Il pulley and 8 and again about the pulley ll at the other end before leading to a cross-over con-j nector I4, and the -other section l5 taking over' pulleys 3 and 9 with one end leading to the cross-vf The other ends of sections" over connector lil.

I2 and I5 are joined together by the adjacent window supporting lug 5', as shown in Fig. .6' wherein the lug is shown in the form of a bolt The two connecfj tors 5 and l5 detachably join their respectiveI and nut of cylindrical shape.

ends of the lband sections to facilitate'thefmounting and demcuntingof either section independ-` ently of the other. The active flightfis sup'-,

ported by the vertically spaced pulleys ll and 8 while the active flight 'l is supported by the pulleys l0 and 9, both flights being disposed at the,

same side of their respective pulleys for move'- ment in unison along parallel paths so that theirI supported window will have a translatory motion' free from any binding within the guides 3.

In the illustrated embodiment the motor has a piston arrangement composed of two relatively' movable sections, each serving as an individual, piston and one section I6 being connected, to the flexible member l2, l5, as by a connector spring ll, While the companion Section I8 is joined thereto for limited play as will hereinafter appear.

Within "the motor chamber i3 is aV pair of ixedl lock engaging rods I9 on which the individual pistons slide in fluid sealed contact by reason of urge the shoes lightly against the lock rods.V The arms of the toggle support or lever may abutf eachother at their inner ends within marginal' 3 notches 25 of a band carried lug 26 to constitute a driving connection between the band section I2 and the piston I8 as well as the toggle lock. The lug is suitably secured to the band section, as by the rivet 26.

Fluid imparted movement of the floating piston section I8 initially will be relative to the stationary flexible transmission member to disengage the lock shoes 22 from the lock rods and after the play or lost motion has been taken up the piston section will contact the lug 26 for exerting a pull upon the exible member to open the window. Fluid imparted movement of the xed pist0n section I6 will immediately push the lug 26 and thereby exert a pull on the flexible member in the opposite direction to close the window, the spring I1 being rather stiff and functioning to hold the lug in abutment with the piston section for establishing a fixed relation of parts for operational purposes while further serving to facilitate their assembly and repair.

Any attempt to open the window, as by prying it open, will set the lock shoes against the rods I9 and frustrate the attempt to enter the car. This act of prying will cause the window to impart a pull on the lug 26 toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, for expanding the toggle lever and setting the shoes in their operative position.

In the present embodiment, the pressure or suction supply line 21, which may lead to the intake manifold as a suitable source, is normally in open communication with the motor chamber at bothl sides of the composite piston and whenY it is desired to operate the motor one or the other of the two control valves 28 and 26 will be actuated to interrupt the suction communication with the selected side of the chamber and substitute an atmospheric communication whereby an operative pressure diierential will act to move the piston. Each piston section is shown as Consisting of a base plate 36, a cap plate 3|, and the cup packing member 26 interposed therebetween, the base plate having a port 32 which serves to equalize the pressure in the space between the piston sections with that at opposite sides of the piston when normally balanced. However, when the motor is operative the port will be closed by a ap valve 33 formed in the packing member.

A hand' actuator 34 is provided for raising and lowering the window during intervals when the power available is insufiicient for motor operation. This actuator may be a simple knob journaled in a bearing 35 in the body structure and connected to a drum 36. The drum shown is provided with a pair of peripheral grooves 31 and 38, each having a recess 39 to detachably receive an inturned end 4E) of an actuating strap 4l or 42. The strap 4I is extended upwardly over the pulley 8 and fastened to the idle flight 43 of the flexible transmission member, as by means o-f a clamp 44. The companion strapy 42 passes about the pulley I I and enters the motor chamber along with the exible member through a packing member 45. The two straps constitute in effect a single exible pull member. The band section I'2 and the strap 42 are in superimposed relation and lie in ilat contact with each other as they p-ass through a slit in the packing member for effective sealing against air leakage. The inner end of the strap 42 is connected to the piston section VI6 as by engaging its terminal hook 46 in a loop 41 where it is held by the overlying band I2. The section I6 is connected by a coupling 48 to the floating section IB so that a hand pull upon the strap 42 will initially move the floating section to disengage the lock shoes before the floating section contacts and moves the band lug 26 to open the window. A hand pull upon the strap 4I by rotating the knob 34 will close the window during which operation the lock shoes will idly drag along the brake rods I9. The coupling 48 incorporates suicient play to permit independent fluid operation of the floating piston section, as shown at 43 in Fig. 8. The clearance at v49, Fig. 8, between the outer face of the housing 2| and the xed piston I6, is greater than that at 49. between the floating piston section I8 and the lug 26, so as to insure proper operation of the oating section with respect to the lock.

In assembling the piston sections the T-shaped head of the coupling 48 is passed through an entranceway 50, formed in the front wall of the cupped housing 2|', and then moved downwardly to interlock with the margins of the narrower slot 5I as indicated in Fig. 9 following which the lock rods I9 are inserted. The band lug 26 is designed to freely pass through the entranceway in order to normally abut the fixed piston section I6.

A novel form of counterbalance is provided for compactness as well as efficiency. In the illustrated embodiment a drum 52 is mounted to rotate with the wheel or pulley I6 and within this drum is a clock spring 53, the latter having one end detachably anchored in a slot '54 of the fixed pulley supporting shaft 55 while the opposite end of the spring is likewise anchored in the drum at 56. A turning of the drum in one direction will wind the spring to store up energy for subsequent expenditure when the window is elevated. A iiexible strap 51 has a hooked terminal 58 detachably interlocked in an owning in the rim of the pulley wheel I0 and its opposite end extended into the motor chamber I3 through the packing member 45 like in construction to the packing memberv 45. The inner end of the strap 51 is secured to the flexible piston rod as shown at 26. Consequently as the piston recedes from the pulley I0 during its window opening movement, the tension strap 51 will unwind and simultaneously wind the clock spring. Closing movement of the window will be assisted by the functioning of the counterbalance spring as the strap rewinds about the pulley. This tension strap is interposed between the rim of the pulley and the iiexible transmission band I2, both elements being in flat surface contact with each other where they pass through the packing 45 to avoid air leakage therebetween.

The counterbalance spring is compactly housed within the motor unit and is responsive to the tension strap or link. The active nights 6 and 1 which support the window, and the power transmitting part I2, where it extends through the piston, constitute spaced portions of a transmission connected in a suitable manner to obtain the alternate but opposite pull forces on that portion within the motor chamber. During the window opening movement, the motor pull on the flexible endless member will also be transmitted to the tension link for winding the spring while, during the window closing movement, the motor pull on the flexible transmission will be augmented by the counterbalance spring acting through the tension strap. Consequently as the motor exerts a lifting force at the two points of window engagement on the active flights the coil spring 53 will add its effort on both portions assigne l 5 of the exib'le transmission. The shaft 55 may be supported in a bracket 6I] on the motor.

The Vwindow operating system is efficient and practical in that the motor force required to open the window against the action of the counterbalance spring more nearly approaches the motor force required to close the spring balanced window, the latter term including like closures. This co-operation of the counterbalance means also serves to minimize the manual eiTort required for opening and closing the window when the source of power is lacking. The Window is securely locked by any prying eiort against it from outside the vehicle and yet may be manually opened from within by cranking or turning the knob 34 which initially sets aside the otherwise window actuated lock before making the desired window adjustment. Consequently, with the elevated window normally exerting a relatively light lock applying pull on the endless transmission member the initial operation for any opening windowadjustment will be to render the lock inoperative and then moving the window whether or not the adjustment is effected manually or by motive power.

While the foregoing description has been given in detail, it is not intended thereby to restrict the invention since the inventive principles involved are capable of assuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, while there has been shown a turning knob or crank for manually moving the pull straps 4|, 42, a slidable actuator may be utilized such as by providing a handle p on the clamp 44 and disposing it in an accessible position for movement along the sill of the window.

What is claimed is: v

1. A window operator comprising, in combination with a movable window, a uid motor having a chamber and a piston therein composed of relatively movable sections with a lock carried by the piston and operable by and upon relative movement between the sections to arrest piston movement in the chamber and thereby to lock the window, a power transmitting member operatively connecting ,the piston to the window for moving the latter and having a part operable by a force transmitted from the window to apply the lock against window opening movement, and exteriorly arranged manual means extending into the chamber and connected to the piston to adjust the latter for regulating the position or' the window and including means operable initially to efect relative movement between the uid motor having a chamber and a piston therein, transmission means operatively connecting the piston to the window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member connected by a lost motion connection to the piston forlimited play movement, a lock movably carried by the piston and operable by a window imparted movement of the power transmitting member relative to the piston for locking the latter against movement, said piston being fluid responsive and movable initially relative to the power transmitting-member by reason of said lost motion connection for rendering the lock inoperative and thereafter to actuate said member for moving the window, and exteriorly arranged manual means connected to the 'piston for imparting a like movement initially'fto the piston to render the lock inoperative and thereafter to move the unit for manually regulating the window.

3. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston through a lost motion connection for limited play, a lock operable by a window imparted movement of the power transmitting member relative to the piston and carried by the latter for locking the piston against movement, said piston being fluid responsive and operable initially relative to said transmitting member by reason of the lost m0- tion to render the lock inoperative and then to move the power transmitting member following the take-up of the play for operating the window, and manual means for actuating the unit to adjust the window independently of motor operation, said manual means including a part extending into the chamber and connected to the piston to so move the piston initially for rendering the lock inoperative and thereby to release the Vunit for such manual movement.

4. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston tothe window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston through a lost motion connection for limited play, a lock operableV by a window imparted movement of the power transmitting member relative to the piston and carried by the latter for locking the piston against movement, said piston'being iuid responsive and operable initially relative to said transmitting member by reason of the lost motion to render the lock inoperative and then to move the power transmitting member following the take-up of the play for operating the win'- dow, and a manually operable member entering the motor chamber along with the power transmitting member in a, uid tight manner and connected to' the piston for so moving the latter initially with respect to the power transmitting member to render the lock inoperative and thereafter to move the unit for manually adjusting the window.

5. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston through a lost motion connection for limited play, a lock operable by a window imparted movement of the power trans-- mittingV member relative to the piston and carried by the latter for locking the piston against movement, said piston being fluid responsive and operable initially relative to said transmitting member by reason of the lost motion to render the lock inoperative and then to move the power transmitting member following the take-up of the play for operating the window, and a manually Aoperable member connected to the piston forlso moving the latter initially to render the lock inoperative and thereafter to manually move the unit both of said members being of flat band form superimposed one on the other and entering the motor chamber through a common packing member.

6. A window system comprising a window, a fiuid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston, said power transmitting member being flexible and extending through the piston and through the opposite ends of the chamber, wheels at the opposite ends of the chamber supporting the flexible member in tension, a spring drum operatively connected to one wheel and adapted to be wound thereby as the flexible member moves in a window opening direction, and a tension link xed at one end to said one wheel for winding thereabout as the drum spring expends its energy, the opposite end of the link being operatively connected to the flexible member for pulling thereon in a window closing direction.

'7. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window for back and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston, a spring drum serving to counterbalance the window, and a tension link fixed to the drum for winding thereabout and connected to the power transmitting member within the chamber.

8. A window system comprising a window, a

` iluid motor for operating the same having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window for baci; and forth movement as a unit and including a power transmitting member operatively connected to the piston through a lost motion` connection, a lock operable by a window imparted movement of the power transmitting member relative to the piston for locking the piston against movement, said piston being fluid responsive and operable initially to render the lock inoperative and thereafter to move the power transmitting member for operating the window, and a manually operable member connected to the piston for so moving the latter initially to render the lock inoperative and thereafter' to move the unit, both of said members having band-like portions entering the chamber in superimposed and contacting relation through a slit ina gasket disposed in one end of the chamber. y

9. In combination, a window, a fluid motor for operating the same having a piston operating in a chamber, a transmission operatively connecting the piston to the window and including a flexible power transmitting member extending from the opposite sides of the piston and taking aboutsupporting wheels Vjournaled at the opposite ends of the chamber, for actuating the window by and during a motor imparted pull of the flexible member in one direction or the other, said piston embodying relatively movable parts, lock means operable by and upon relative movement between said parts as imparted by a window effected movement of the flexible member to lock the window against opening movement and operable by and upon relative movement between said parts as imparted by a-fluid pressure differential acting thereon to release the window for motor operation thereof, and means manually opera-r ble initially to effect relative movement between said parts for rendering the lock means inoperative and thereafter to pull on the flexible member for opening the window.

10. A window system comprising a window, a drive for actuating the same including relatively movable power operated parts, a transmission operatively connecting the parts to the window for back and forth movement as a unit with a lost motion connection permitting such relative movement, clutch means carried by one part and operable upon such relative movement for arresting the unit against a force originating in the window, and means connected to one part and manually operable independently of the transmission and by reason of the lost motion to secure the lock inoperative and thereafter to actuate the unit. 4

11. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same including a chamber and a piston therein, a flexible transmission operatively connecting the window to the piston for back and forth movement as a unit and having a lost motion connection with the piston, said transmission being in effect an endless element having a power transmitting portion extending through the piston and operatively connected at its opposite ends to a pulley supported window actuating portion, a lock operatively connected to the flexible transmission for being actuated by a force originating in the window end of the unit to secure the window against movement, means operable by a motor imparted movement of the unit for securing the lock inoperative, and manual means connected to the lock and operable independently of the transmission for unlocking the window and moving it through the transmission.

12. A window system comprising a window, a uid motor for operating the same including a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the window to the piston for back and forth movement. said transmission constituting in effect a flexible endless member having one portion operatively connected by a lost motion to and extending through the piston and another portion supported by pulley means and operatively connected to the window for moving the latter whereby on one stroke of the piston the endless member will be pulled in one direction and upon the return stroke of the piston said endless member will be pulled in the opposite direction, a lock operatively connected to the exible transmission for being actuated by a window imparted movement of the endless member for securing the same against movement, and manual means connected to the lock and operable initially to secure the lock inoperative and thereafter to move the endless member for window adjustment.

13. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motorfor operating the same including a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connecting the window to the piston for back and forth movement and constituting in effect a flexible endless member having one portion operatively connected to the piston and another portion supported by` pulley means and operatively connected to the window for moving the latter, a lock carried by the endless member aifd operatively connected'thereto' for being actuated by a window imparted movement of the endless member to secure the window against movement, a iiexible member connected at one end to the secondv named portion for pulling the 9 endless member in one direction and at its opposite end to the lock for initially rendering the latter inoperative and thereafter pulling the endless member in the opposite direction, and manual means for so pulling on the ilexible member to open and close the window.

14. A fluid motor for a window regulator including a chamber and a piston therein with a power transmitting member supporting a section of the piston for limited movement, and a.

lock carried by the piston section and operatively connected to said power transmitting member for bein. plied therebr, said piston having another section, each section being iluid operable in relatirely opposed directions and one comprising a body plate and cupped packing in sealing Contact with the chamber wall, the body plate having a port therethrough for normally equalizing the pressure at opposite sides of the said one section and the cupped packing having a normally inoperative port sealing flap for closing` the port in the presence of a pressure diiierential.

15. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same includingI a chamber and a piston therein, an endless power transmitting member having a pulley supported portion connected to the wind-.onT and a separable portion extending from opposite sides of the piston within the chamber; the opposite ends of the second portion being detachably connected to the opposite ends of the first portion to enable either portion being installed independently of the companion portion, and means controlling the operative application of fluid pressure to the piston.

16, A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same including a chamber and a piston therein, an endless member supported by pulley means and having one portion connected. to the window, the piston havm ing a pair of duid operable sections connected for limited relative movement and through which the endless member extends, the endless member kbeing provided with a coupling part between the twol piston sections for alternate contact thereby to drive the endless member back and forth, a lock carried by one piston section to engage a fixed part and connected to the endless member for Ibeing rendered inoperative by the initial fluid movement of said one piston section relative to the endless memberand prior to contacting the coupling part, and means for manually so moving said one piston section to render the lock inoperative for the manual opening of the window.

1'7. A fluid motor having a chamber and a piston therein, a transmission operatively connected to the piston for back and forth movement and including a power transmitting mem ber operatively connected to the piston, a window counterbalancing spring drum, and a tension link winding about the drum and connected at its free end to the power transmitting member for acting thereon toward a window closing position, said power transmitting member and said tension link having band-like portions entering the chamber in superimposecland contacting relan 10 tion through a slit in a gasket carried by an end wall of the chamber.

1S. A window system comprising a window, a

' fluid motor for opera-ting the same including a chamber and a piston therein, a flexible power transmitting member supported by pulley means to provide a window actuating portion to which the window is operatively connected, said piston being slidable along the flexible member for limited movement, a lock carried by said piston and operable against a xed part by a window imparted movement of the flexible member relan tive to the piston to secure the window against movement, said piston being fluid operable along the flexible member to initially secure the lock inoperative and alter such limited movement to move the flexible member for window adjustment, a iiexi'ble pull member having one end portion vsupported by said pulley means and secured at one end to said nrst flexible member for adjusting the window in one direction, a Second pull member having one end portion connected to said piston for initially so moving the latter to secure the lock inoperative and then to adjust the window in the opposite direction, and a manually operable control connected to the opposite end portions oi the two pull members.

19. A window system comprising a window, a fluid motor for operating the same including a chamber and. a piston therein, a flexible endless member supported by upper and lower pulleys and operatively yconnected to the window for moving the latter, said pistonA comprising relatively movable sections each having a fluid sealed nt on the nrst portion and one section having limited sliding movement on said endless member, a lock carried by said one section and operable against a nxed part by a window imparted movement of the endless member to secure the piston against movement, a flexible member taking over the upper and lower pulleys and secured at one end to the endless member without the motor chamber and at its opposite end to said one piston whereby a pull on the rst end will move the window in one direction and a pull on the second end will move the window in the oppositeY direction after initially securing the lock inoperative, and manual means selectively operableV to pull on said flexible member in either one direction or the other and when pulling in said opposite direction will initially render the lock inoperativer and then adjust the window. ANTON RAPPL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Rappl Dec. 18, 1945 

